NJT Train Damages Overhead Wires

Power problems cause delay between NWK and NYP.

This can't be good with the RNC coming up and all.

http://wcbs880.com/topstories/
topstoriesny_story_241154503.html

There have been so many wire problems on the NEC and NJCL over the past month, leading to many delays, one of which I was involved with.

All the more reason third rail proves to be better over the summer months.

At about 1am I spoke with someone who was working, and said that things are still screwed up......Trains are turning at Newark Penn, and PATH is cross honoring NJT tickets to and from NY. They said that the hope is that the wires will be fixed by morning, there was significant damage, and that it happened just outside the mouth of the tunnel (im assuming relatively close to Bergen interlocking).

Ugh.......what a mess

It was 2 track at Hudson Int. Amtrak trains were running into NYP but under a restriction of 30 mph down 3 trk. NJT trains were turned at Newark. To add to the fun 7281 broke down between the airport and Lane on 5 trk and needed a tow truck. It was not a stellar night by any means, but one quick look at the moon and everything became very clear.

All the more reason third rail proves to be better over the summer months

That's a one-sided view.

The MTA has gotten sufficient funds to maintain and replace the third rail on LIRR and Metro-North. Amtrak has not gotten sufficient funds from Washington DC to replace the eighty-year-old variable-tension catenary wires on the NEC with new constant-tension wire.

Also, IIRC, you cannot run trains at 125 mph with third-rail, never mind 150 mph.

A co-worker related a very unpleasant NJT NEC experience from Saturday night, when the catenary was still down between Newark and NYP.

Two couples from Bucks County drove to Hamilton and took NJT's NEC train to New York Saturday morning, arriving before the catenary incident. To return home, they took a cab from Christopher Street (!!!) to Penn Station, arriving around 10:30 PM. They were directed to take PATH to Newark (via Christopher Street and Hoboken), where they arrived around midnight to discover chaos and NO INFORMATION. The train boards were still listing trains from 9 PM. No NJT employees were in evidence.

Finally the board announced a train leaving for Trenton from track 1. They hurried up to the platform to find it mobbed with potential passengers and a large number of police officers. The train's doors closed as they reached the platform, while hordes of people on the platform yelled to be allowed onto the train, which then pulled out with many empty seats.

At 1:30 AM the group of four took a cab to Hamilton.

Oh man, am I happy I wasn't working Sat. Night!!!!!!!

Sorry to hear about the unpleasant experience......

Hot goes to ground with a snap, crackle, and a loud pop (or bang).

Well at least for one Amtrak didn't do it. Also NJT, Amtrak, LIRR and Metro North pay for new catenary together.

AmtrakFan

Also, IIRC, you cannot run trains at 125 mph with third-rail, never mind 150 mph.

Is that documented somewhere, or just an observation that nobody has done it, yet?